Save the Soundboard Behind Pearl Jam’s ‘Ten’

Time running out to help Seattle studios restore Neve used by Soundgarden, Blind Melon

Back in 2013, Dave Grohl took a stand for a piece of Seattle’s analog recording history, and he wound up taking a bow for Sound City, the documentary he directed celebrating the studio where Nirvana recorded Nevermind. But another of the northwestern capital’s music-making hubs needs assistance, and there’s no single heroic benefactor on hand to help. London Bridge Studio is looking for fans to assist in restoring its rare mixing board.

Like Grohl’s aquisition, the console in question is a Neve (this one a 8048 model manufactured in 1973), and it’s got some monumental albums in its past, including Soundgarden’s Louder Than Love and Pearl Jam’s Ten. Others who’ve made records on the thing include Blind Melon, Alice In Chains, Temple of the Dog, Mother Love Bone, Candlebox, Fleet Foxes, Death Cab for Cutie, and Cat Power.

The crowd-sourcing comes to a close on April 19, however, so time is running out to lend support. “We came to the consensus that the Neve was simply too important to the Seattle music community to replace it,” said studio co-owner Eric Lilavois. “Rather than raise our studio rates … we’re inviting those interested in preserving this rich history to take part in the restoration and help ensure this board’s accessibility for another 40 years.”

Those feeling generous have a range of goodies and honors to choose from — $35 will get you a pretty sweet “Team Neve” tee; $150 will snag a signed copy of Fleet Foxes’ self-titled vinyl LP; $250 pays for your name permanently engraved on the LED-backlit Plexiglass frame running the length of the restored console; and $15,000 will get your band’s next album produced by Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam, Blind Melon, Temple of the Dog).